Yes, I’m aware that many of you dislike Jacob Steinburg and do not rate him as a source. I get it. However, a lot of the info he gets is similar to what we get and even though sometimes he will put out club PR, most of his stuff is sourced from other places like ours is. This is why I will not just dismiss what he puts out, and I will see substance in some of it, if not all of it.
I wanted to hone in on it anyway, for a few reasons. The first is around the reasons Chelsea are looking at Alonso.
Jacob Steinburg:
“There is a feeling inside Chelsea that Alonso’s style of play would make him suited to their young squad. The former Spain midfielder’s standing within the game would help him control the dressing room and could also help with attracting players to the club.”
This is spot on, and that last bit is CRUCIAL.
You would have read my recent gloomy reports around players not being interested in coming to Chelsea this summer and the thought we might have to turn to B and C lists for our player targets this summer. IF Alonso comes in, I have no doubt that this would change. I have no doubt that he would be able to attract our main targets even without European football. I think his name stands in that much of a high regard that it will make all the difference.
And for the same reason, we won’t see any Liam Rosenior problems with players not respecting the head coach. They will fully respect him, and maybe it might even change some of the minds of the players wanting out.
Am I being too naïve there? Maybe. But I genuinely think he could make the difference with those two important points.
Although Steinburg is being very positive on Alonso to Chelsea, in the same breathe, he’s mentioning the talks with Andoni Iraola and why the club like him. One thing people seem to be forgetting is that they have the same agent, so of course they will speak about both managers when there is a vacant position for head coach at Chelsea – it would be daft not to. But make no mistake, Alonso is the guy they want as PRIORITY, and he is the one they are absolutely throwing everything at right now to get him in. But they do have contingency plans just in case because after all, we will need a new manager regardless!
Chelsea have held encouraging discussions over a move for Xabi Alonso but are keeping their options open and are closely monitoring Andoni Iraola’s situation.
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy is confident of attracting their favoured candidate and there is optimism over how early talks with Alonso’s camp have gone.
The unknown is whether Alonso decides to move to England now or opts to take a break. But suggestions that he is waiting to see if the Liverpool role becomes open soon have been exaggerated. The current sense is that the Merseysiders will stick with Arne Slot this summer, although that is yet to be confirmed.
Something that has been acknowledged by the recruitment department is the need for the team to become more physical. That heightens the appeal of Iraola, whose Bournemouth side are one of the most intense in the Premier League.
Chelsea have met Iraola to talk to him about the role. There is respect for the Spaniard’s work with Bournemouth and a sense that he is more than capable of taking on a big job. Iraola has responded to Bournemouth losing a number of key players in defence and attack during the past year by putting them in contention for Champions League qualification.
Edging on the side of caution is the takeaway from this article, as all of us should be too right now.
Full article here if you want to read it all and haven’t see it yet.
